Search Results (509)

College students are particularly vulnerable to psychological distress, including anxiety, depression, and chronic stress, often triggered by academic pressure, developmental challenges, and events such as the COVID-19 pandemic. This study examined the effectiveness and feasibility of a structured mindfulness-based program—Mindfulness Laboratory (MLAB)—delivered over three academic years to psychology students in Italy through online, hybrid, and in-person formats. A total of 194 students participated, with 176 completing pre- and post-intervention assessments. Standardized self-report measures evaluated mindfulness (FFMQ, MAAS), perceived stress (PSS), resilience (RS-14), sleep quality (PSQI), depressive symptoms (BDI-II), anxiety (STAI-Y1, STAI-Y2), and self-compassion (SCS). A non-randomized control group of 51 students who did not undergo the intervention was also included. The results showed significant improvements in mindfulness, perceived stress, anxiety, and depression, with a smaller but significant increase in resilience. Sleep quality remained stable, while self-compassion levels slightly declined. Surprisingly, no significant differences were found across the three delivery formats, suggesting comparable effectiveness regardless of modality. These results support the feasibility and benefits of mindfulness-based interventions for university students. Further controlled studies with long-term follow-up are needed to confirm upon these findings. Full article

Invasive neonatal GBS infections constitute a major cause of sepsis and meningitis in Western countries. Vaginal/rectal GBS colonization during pregnancy is the main risk factor for the development of early-onset infections (GBS-EOD) in newborn by vertical transmission at birth, in addition to prematurity and stillbirth. In Italy, intrapartum antibiotic prophylaxis (IAP) to prevent GBS-EOD is offered to pregnant women who tested as GBS-positive in late pregnancy. Passive surveillance in Italy showed that a non-negligible number of GBS-EOD cases (about 50%) occurred from GBS-negative pregnant women. This finding prompted the launch of a national online survey from 15 December 2022 to 12 February 2023 to investigate the microbiological procedures followed for GBS identification in Italian public and private microbiology laboratories, the prevalence of maternal GBS colonization, and the incidence of GBS-EOD cases. The survey results demonstrated that national guidelines for the prevention of EOD-GBS cases as well as harmonization of microbiological methodologies for GBS identification in the antenatal screening are needed. Full article

Introduction: Chemotherapy is a primary treatment option in human and veterinary oncology. Like humans, canine patients often develop drug resistance. Comparative oncology is gaining increasing interest, and spontaneous tumors of companion dogs have emerged as a powerful resource for better understanding human cancer. The genetic, molecular, and histological features of tumors in dogs are more closely related to those in humans than the ones in laboratory animals, including complex mechanisms of drug resistance. Methods: A comprehensive literature search was conducted in the electronic database Clarivate Web of Science (WOS): Medical Literature Analysis and Retrieval System Online (MEDLINE) from 1990 to 2025 (updated 22 January 2025). The final set includes 59 relevant full-text English articles. Results: The literature findings suggest that canine spontaneous tumors are valuable model systems with important translational implications for identifying novel mechanisms of chemotherapy resistance shared with humans and may help advance the current standard of care in precision medicine. Conclusions: We have provided an updated overview of the role of canine tumor models to study oncotherapy resistance, focusing on limitations and opportunities for advancement. Despite complementary benefits of such models in translational oncology research, their relevance remains underestimated. Strengthening the collaboration between human and veterinary medicine professionals and comparative medicine researchers, and obtaining the support of interdisciplinary institutions, could contribute to addressing the problem of multidrug resistance for both human and canine patients. Future research may promote using canine spontaneous tumors as translational therapeutic models for human chemoresistance, through a multidisciplinary approach based on the emerging “One Health, One Medicine” paradigm. Full article

Introduction: Musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs) are a significant occupational health concern worldwide, particularly among healthcare professionals such as laboratory technicians. MSDs lead to chronic pain, decreased productivity, and reduced quality of life. This study aimed to investigate the prevalence of MSDs and associated ergonomics risk factors among Saudi clinical laboratory technicians. Methodology: This cross-sectional study was conducted on 167 clinical laboratory technicians in Taif city, Saudi Arabia. Data were collected through an online self-administered questionnaire, distributed via Google Forms. The questionnaire collected demographics information, assessed the prevalence of musculoskeletal pain using the Nordic Musculoskeletal Questionnaire (NMQ), and evaluated ergonomics risk factors using the Dutch Musculoskeletal Questionnaire (DMQ). Results: In total, 77.3% of the sample exhibited musculoskeletal issues in the last 12 months, with lower back (52.1%), neck (48.5%), and shoulders (40.7%) being the most frequent muscular complaints among laboratory technicians. Experience and nationality showed significant associations with MSDs (p ≤ 0.05). Lower back and neck complaints were commonly recorded with multiple laboratory tasks, including sustained sitting and standing and repetitive movement, whereas lower back and shoulder pain were notably prevalent with pipetting work. Conclusions: Work-related musculoskeletal disorders were highly apparent in laboratory practice. Periodic ergonomic training is mandated among laboratory personnel to limit occupational disability. Full article

The wine industry aims to reduce pesticide use by utilizing disease-resistant grape varieties, although their oenological potential remains underexplored. This study aimed to evaluate their oenological potential compared to traditional ones. Musts from resistant (Souvignier Gris, Sauvignac, Voltis, and Floreal) and traditional (Chardonnay, Sauvignon Blanc, and Viognier) varieties were fermented at laboratory scale with online CO₂ monitoring, and two yeasts were used to study varietal responses to yeast impact. Wines were analyzed for metabolites from central carbon metabolism, aromas (varietal thiols, ethyl esters, acetate esters, and higher alcohols), and phenolic compounds (hydroxybenzoic acids, hydroxycinnamic acids, flavan-3-ols, and flavonols) using (U)HPLC methods. Principal component analysis (PCA) of all variables revealed Souvignier Gris grouped with a Sauvignon Blanc sample, partially due to varietal thiols. PCA of aromas (PC1: 37.7%, PC2: 17.8%) showed that Souvignier Gris and Sauvignac exhibited similar behavior to Sauvignon Blanc. The heat map of 19 phenolics showed Sauvignac and Sauvignon Blanc clustered, with lower phenolic abundance. This preliminary work contributes to a detailed characterization of the oenological potential of these new varieties and constitutes an essential step in identifying which traditional and well-known varieties they resemble. This will then enable the recommendation of cellar itineraries adapted to their profile. Full article

Although they show great promise in the medical field, the safety of fullerenes—discovered forty years ago—is still uncertain, according to regulatory experts at the European Scientific Committee on Consumer Safety. This is a major obstacle to progress in the field. Meanwhile, oily solutions of fullerenes intended for human and pet consumption can be purchased online, without any marketing authorization. Therefore, to avoid any potential public health issues, regulatory-compliant preclinical studies on fullerene oily solutions are urgently needed. We present the first in vivo genotoxicity study of a C60/C70 fullerene mixture (4.1/1, w/w) dissolved in extra virgin olive oil (0.8 mg/mL). The study was conducted using the Mammalian Micronucleus Test (MMT) in an independent GLP-laboratory, in compliance with the OECD and EPA guidelines. The MMT was performed on NMRI mice following the oral administration of fullerenes at doses of up to 3.6 mg/kg. This dose is almost the maximum dose that can be administered to rodents. The data obtained clearly show that fullerene oily solutions have no genotoxic activity under these conditions. This should pave the way for further regulatory investigations of fullerene oily solutions. Full article

Background: Chronic inflammatory bowel disease significantly impacts patients’ everyday lives. Despite receiving regular medical care in gastroenterological or family medicine consultations, patients with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) still experience a lack of information. To evaluate these deficits, we analyzed the main points of interest raised in an online consultation forum offered as a supplementary resource for patients. Methods: We analyzed 20 years of online consultation data at three time points, 2003 (launch of the forum), 2013, and 2024, and compared them against each other. A total of 681 patients participated in the consultations during these years. The clinical profiles of the participants included Crohn’s disease (CD, n = 209), ulcerative colitis (UC, n = 140), unclassified colitis (IBDU, n = 30), and individuals with no specified diagnosis (NSD, n = 303). Results: Patients with ulcerative colitis demonstrated interest in topics such as diet and nutrition, as well as treatment with biologics. Patients with Crohn’s disease expressed interest in diet, nutritional management, and treatment with biologics. Additionally, they showed interest in pain management, diagnostic imaging, and stress management. In the case of patients with unclassified colitis, a broad range of topics was addressed, with no single area emerging as particularly prominent. Patients with no specified diagnosis exhibited interest in diet and nutrition, laboratory diagnostics, and pain therapy. Conclusions: For patients with inflammatory bowel disease, online consultations represent a valuable complement to standard medical care. They provide additional support and contribute to enhancing patients’ confidence in managing their condition. A broad spectrum of disease-related topics was addressed during the consultations. Identified information gaps can be systematically discussed and subsequently reduced. Full article

Adequate education in laboratory animal science and subsequently the attendance of relevant courses are mandatory prerequisites for animal experimentation. The course content for different stakeholders is stipulated by European and national regulations. If all of this content is covered, accreditation by competent bodies is possible and recommended. Here, we present our experiences with an EU-Function A/C/D accredited course (practical training with mice and rats) and an introductory seminar for undergraduate students, which have been running for more than ten years. All courses were organized in-house and were very relevant to the students and their needs but were also very labor intensive. The courses were systematically (and retrospectively) evaluated, showing a high degree of satisfaction and a great acquisition of knowledge, and the organizer was able to re-adjust the courses as needed over the years. Tests demonstrated the students’ progress and highlighted some parts of the lessons that were difficult to convey, such as those on legal regulations, housing and feeding, transport, GM animals, breeding, and the classification of severity. Dummies were proven to be very helpful at the beginning of the training but could not fully replace training with live animals. On-site lectures were favored over online sources, which were needed due to the pandemic. High standards in education are mandatory, and the accreditation process allows for the transferal of certificates to other institutions. Full article

This study aimed to verify the effect of positive awe and explore the effect of threatening awe on promoting pro-environmental behavior, as well as examine the role of connection to nature in this relationship. An online experiment (Experiment 1) and a laboratory experiment (Experiment 2) were conducted in two different samples to replicate the results. The results of Experiment 1 demonstrated that both positive and threatening awe promoted participants’ willingness to pay a premium for ecotourism, and the connection to nature played mediating roles in these processes. The results of Experiment 2 demonstrated that positive awe improved participants’ intention to conduct a series of pro-environmental behaviors, and the connection to nature played a mediating role, while threatening awe did not have this effect. These findings suggest that positive awe can encourage people to conduct more pro-environmental behaviors, while threatening awe can encourage pro-environmental behaviors in the form of financial support, and the feeling of connection to nature is one of the psychological mechanisms in these processes. The results of the present research not only enrich the literature related to both awe and pro-environmental behavior, but also provide managerial implications for policy makers and ecotourism operators. Full article

The optimization of the operation strategy for building HVAC systems is the key to achieving energy conservation and consumption reduction in air-conditioning systems. This study proposes an online real-time control strategy for the air-conditioning water system based on the model predictive control (MPC) principle, implemented and validated on the integrated energy experimental platform. The experimental system simulates load generation and dissipation processes using a water tank, where hourly varying heating power output emulates the dynamic cooling loads of buildings. By regulating the chilled water system through different algorithms, the temperature tracking control performance and cooling supply regulation accuracy were rigorously validated. The control module was written in the Python 3.8 environment, and Niagara 4 software was used as an intermediate software to achieve data interaction and logical control with the laboratory system. The experimental results show that this algorithm can follow the hourly optimized parameters with a low overshoot in the short-term domain. Meanwhile, it can achieve the optimal control of cooling capacity and energy consumption in the long-term domain. Compared with the PID strategy, the temperature following control accuracy can be improved by 9.64%, and the cooling capacity can be saved by 6.24%. Compared with the day-ahead MPC algorithm, the temperature following control accuracy can be relatively improved by 16.52%, and the cooling capacity can be saved by 1.24%. Full article

Interpolated retrieval enhances the learning of new information—a finding known as the forward testing effect. The context change account suggests that learning benefits are due to a shift in internal context, which can be triggered through the retrieval of either content-relevant or content-irrelevant information. In two experiments, we examined whether interpolated episodic, autobiographical, and semantic retrieval would enhance new learning of a video lecture, compared to interpolated review. Participants watched a STEM topic lecture divided into three ~5 min segments and completed their assigned interpolated activity after the first two segments. Across both a laboratory (Experiment 1, N = 249) and online setting (Experiment 2, N = 246), only episodic retrieval enhanced the learning of new material; autobiographical and semantic retrieval (content-irrelevant) did not improve new learning. Critically, we introduced a measure of context change to determine whether the level of engagement in these interpolated activities predicted recall. Engagement correlated with criterial test performance when controlling for effort (seriousness). Our results support a multi-factor explanation for the forward testing effect, providing evidence for both the context change and strategy change accounts, although we emphasize that support for context change should be interpreted with caution. Full article

The pandemic forced educators to shift abruptly to distance learning, also referred to as e-learning education. Educational institutions integrated new educational tools and online platforms. Several schools, colleges, and universities began incorporating online laboratories in different fields of education, such as engineering, information technology, physics, and chemistry. Online laboratories may take the form of virtual laboratories, software-based simulations available via the Internet, or remote labs, which involve accessing physical equipment online. Adopting remote laboratories as a substitute for conventional hands-on labs has raised concerns regarding the safety and security of both the remote lab stations and the Online Laboratory Management Systems (OLMSs). Design patterns and architectures need to be developed to attain security by design in remote laboratories. Before these can be developed, software architects and developers must understand the domain and existing and proposed solutions. This paper presents an extensive literature review of safety and security concerns related to remote laboratories and an overview of the industry, national and multinational standards, and legal requirements and regulations that need to be considered in building secure and safe Online Laboratory Management Systems. This analysis provides a taxonomy and classification of published standards as well as security and safety problems and possible solutions that can facilitate the documentation of best practices, and implemented solutions to produce security by design for remote laboratories and OLMSs. Full article

Background: Heart failure (HF) ranks among the foremost causes of mortality globally, exhibiting particularly high prevalence and significant impact within intensive care units (ICUs). This study sought to develop, validate, and deploy a time-dependent machine learning model aimed at predicting the one-year all-cause mortality risk in ICU patients diagnosed with HF, thereby facilitating precise prognostic evaluation and risk stratification. Methods: This study encompassed a cohort of 8960 ICU patients with HF sourced from the Medical Information Mart for Intensive Care IV (MIMIC-IV) database (version 3.1). This latest version of the database added data from 2020 to 2022 on the basis of version 2.2 (covering data from 2008 to 2019); therefore, data spanning 2008 to 2019 (n = 5748) were designated for the training set, while data from 2020 to 2022 (n = 3212) were reserved for the test set. The primary endpoint of interest was one-year all-cause mortality. Least Absolute Shrinkage and Selection Operator (LASSO) regression was employed to select predictive features from an initial pool of 64 candidate variables (including demographic characteristics, vital signs, comorbidities and complications, therapeutic interventions, routine laboratory data, and disease severity scores). Four predictive models were developed and compared: Cox proportional hazards, random survival forest (RSF), Cox proportional hazards deep neural network (DeepSurv), and eXtreme Gradient Boosting (XGBoost). Model performance was assessed using the concordance index (C-index) and Brier score, with model interpretability addressed through SHapley Additive exPlanations (SHAP) and time-dependent Survival SHapley Additive exPlanations (SurvSHAP(t)). Results: This study revealed a one-year mortality rate of 46.1% within the population under investigation. In the training set, LASSO effectively identified 24 features in the model. In the test set, the XGBoost model exhibited superior predictive performance, as evidenced by a C-index of 0.772 and a Brier score of 0.161, outperforming the Cox model (C-index: 0.740, Brier score: 0.175), the RSF model (C-index: 0.747, Brier score: 0.178), and the DeepSur model (C-index: 0.723, Brier score: 0.183). Decision curve analysis validated the clinical utility of the XGBoost model across a broad spectrum of risk thresholds. Feature importance analysis identified the red cell distribution width-to-albumin ratio (RAR), Charlson Comorbidity Index, Simplified Acute Physiology Score II (SAPS II), Acute Physiology Score III (APS III), and the age–bilirubin–INR–creatinine (ABIC) score as the top five predictive factors. Consequently, an online risk prediction tool based on this model has been developed and is publicly accessible. Conclusions: The time-dependent XGBoost model demonstrated robust predictive capability in evaluating the one-year all-cause mortality risk in critically ill HF patients. This model offered a useful tool for early risk identification and supported timely interventions. Full article

This study assessed the accuracy of average glandular dose (AGD) calculations for two Selenia Dimensions mammography systems using data from the online dose management DoseWatch software version 3.3.5.1. Mammographic images acquired between January 2021 and December 2022 were retrospectively analyzed. The AGD values displayed by the systems were compared with those independently calculated using the Dance and Boone methods. Additionally, real glandular composition of breast was estimated using LIBRA (Laboratory for Individualized Breast Radiodensity Assessment) software version 1.0.4 for a selected subgroup of patients. Results showed that the AGD values displayed by the systems were generally consistent with those calculated using the Dance method, but discrepancies emerged when applying the Boone method, especially when using estimated glandular composition. Most mammograms fell within acceptable and achievable dose limits according to European guidelines, though a small percentage exceeded these thresholds. The findings suggest that the Dance method, using glandular composition estimated through LIBRA, provides a reliable and accurate AGD calculation, offering a simpler alternative to more complex individualized calculations. The study highlights the importance of accurate glandularity estimation for proper dose management in mammography. Full article

Introduction: The COVID-19 pandemic caused significant disruptions to medical training worldwide, particularly for junior doctors, as in-person clinical training was replaced by online education. This study aims to assess the impact of the pandemic on medical training in Greece, focusing on the perceptions of junior doctors across various specialties and exploring the implications for future clinical practice. Methods: We conducted a cross-sectional online survey of 465 junior doctors, all of whom were members of the Athens Medical Association, from 14 September to 14 October 2022. Participants completed a questionnaire assessing the perceived impact of the pandemic on their training, the effectiveness of online education, and potential consequences for clinical preparedness. Factor analysis was conducted to identify underlying patterns related to perceptions for the impact on medical training. Multiple linear regression models were used to assess potential associations among the extracted factors and participants’ sociodemographic characteristics. Results: Among the 465 participants, the mean age was 32.1 (SD = 7.0) years and 300 (64.5%) were female. Among the responders, the majority (n = 241, 51.8%) conducted training in Internal Medicine, 155 (33.3%) in a surgical specialty and 69 (14.8%) in other specialties, including Psychiatry, Radiology and Laboratory Medicine. Two out of five medical students reported that their medical training was mostly affected during the first wave of the pandemic, from March to June 2020 (n = 201, 43.2%). Factor analysis revealed the existence of two factors with high reliability and acceptable validity, interpreted as “perceptions towards online training” and “perceptions for the consequences of the pandemic on medical training”. Age and medical specialty were found to be significantly associated with both factors. Conclusion: Training was severely disrupted, with potential long-term implications for clinical competence; therefore Government and Universities should consider the lessons learned from the pandemic and compensate for the time and opportunities lost. Measures must be taken to safeguard medical education and training in the event of such outbreaks in the future. Full article